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Toronto Maple Leafs Roundtable: Mike Babcock’s Future

By Mike Stephens

BOSTON, MA - APRIL 23: Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock taels to the media after Game 7 of the 2019 First Round Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Boston Bruins and the Toronto Maple Leafs on April 23, 2019, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 23: Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock taels to the media after Game 7 of the 2019 First Round Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Boston Bruins and the Toronto Maple Leafs on April 23, 2019, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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BOSTON, MA – APRIL 23: Brad Marchand #63 of the Boston Bruins shakes hands with Head Coach Mike Babcock of the Toronto Maple Leafs after Game Seven of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the TD Garden on April 23, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – APRIL 23: Brad Marchand #63 of the Boston Bruins shakes hands with Head Coach Mike Babcock of the Toronto Maple Leafs after Game Seven of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the TD Garden on April 23, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Josh Tessler

If I were Kyle Dubas, I would retain Mike Babcock. At first, I was leaning towards jumping on the “Fire Babcock” train, but I’ve thought more about this.

If Dubas were to fire Babcock, he would likely cause some turmoil within the Toronto Maple Leafs front office. Brendan Shanahan and Mike Babcock have a strong relationship. Shanahan might not be so thrilled about his young general manager kicking his buddy to the curb. Instead, I would give Babcock another chance to prove himself. But, that doesn’t mean that I wouldn’t make any changes to the coaching staff.

Over the course of the season, I haven’t been thrilled with DJ Smith. Smith has been the Leafs number two coach and hasn’t done quite well in managing the Leafs defence and special teams play. It’s time for a new voice behind the bench.

So, If I were Dubas, I would let Smith go and look for a replacement.

Knowing Dubas’ love for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, my guess is that he’d look to replace Smith with Drew Bannister. Bannister was the Greyhounds head coach from 2015-2018. Currently, he’s the head coach of the San Antonio Rampage (AHL).

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